Monkey-wrench.



WILLIAM LOUIS STEVENSON, 0F CHESTER, WEST VIRGINIA.

MONKEY-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 23, 1911.

Patented May 28,1912. serial No. 616,421.

To all whom z'z may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM L. STEVEN- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county' of Hancock and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Monkey-IVrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to wrenches and the principal object of the same is to provide an improved means for adjusting the movable jaw of the wrench so that the jaw can be very readily adj ust-ed to the' desired position, and so that the jaw can be securely locked in the adjusted position.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the assembled wrench. Fig. 2 is a view of the stationary jaw, the shank being shown in sect-ion. Fig. 3 is an end view of the movable jaw. Fig. 4 is a side view of the movable jaw. Fig. 5 is an end view of the handle, the shank being shown in section and in the locked position. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the shank being shown in an unlocked position. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shank.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals it will be seen that this wrench comprises a handle 1, which has a central opening 2 having a reduced inner portion 3. The wall of the opening 2 is provided with the threads 4 and 5, which are formed upon opposite portions of the wall so that the unthreaded portions 6 and 7 are provided between the threaded portions.

A jaw 8 is provided with a shank 9 which is substantially rectangular in cross section for the major portion of its length and which is provided with the threads 10 upon curved faces 11 and 12. The end 13 of the shank 9 is reduced so that it will t into the small portion 3 of the opening formed in the handle and is provided with a flange 14 upon its end. A set screw 15 is threaded through an opening 16 formed in the handle and extends into the opening 3 a suiiicient distance to engage the flange 14 and prevent the jaw from being entirely removed from the handle.

A jaw 17 is provided with an extension 18 which has a lia-nge 19 formed at its end portion. The flange 19 is provided with a notch 20 at the central point and with a notch 21 near each end. The extension 18 is inserted into the opening 2 of the handle 1 and a flange 22 is formed upon the end portion of the handle and lits between the flange 19 and the body portion of the jaw 17. By means of this construction the jaw is securely connected with the handle and is so mounted that the handle may be rotated independently of the jaw 17.

A catch 23 is provided with a lug 24 by means of which it is pivotally connected with the handle 1 and is provided with a tooth 25 which passes through a slot 26 formed in the handle and engages either the notch 2O or one of the notches 21. The catch is provided with a spring tail 27 which contacts with the handle 1 and holds the tooth 25 in a position to engage the desired `notch and holds the handle in the adjusted position.

In assembling this device the shank is inserted through the opening 28 formed in the handle. In order to permit the shank to be passed through the opening 2, the handle must be turned so that the threads 4 and 5 will engage the threads 10 as shown in Fig. 6. After the shank has been inserted the full distance the set screw 15 is inserted through the opening 16 and will prevent the shank from beingV entirely withdrawn. When it is desired to open the wrench, the tail 27 of the catch is pressed so that the catch will rock upon the pivot and the tooth 25 will be moved out of the notch 20. The handle can then be turned to the position shown in Fig. 6 and the jaws separated the desired amount. The notches 21 prevent the handle from being turned beyond the desired point. When the jaws have been opened a sufficient amount the handle is returned to the normal position so that the threads 4 and 5 will engage the threads 10 as shown in Fig. 5 and the wrench will then be held in a locked position.

It should also be noted that the opening 2S fits the contour of the larger portion 9 of the shank and it is therefore, impossible for the handle and jaw 17 to turn and release the shankafter the wrench has been locked in the adjusted position.

Vhat I claim is A wrench comprising a hollow handle, a head, a neck carried'by said head and pivotally mounted in said handle, said neck having its inner end provided with a flauwe having a plurality of notches formed theiein, said handle provided with an opening adapted to be brought into registry With a selected one of said notches, a spring tooth pivotally mounted upon said handle and adapted to hold said handle in an adjusted position, said tooth comprising a body portion, a pivot lug carried by said body portion and pivotally connected with said han dle, an angular extension at one end of said body portion passing through the opening in said handle and adapted to engage said notches, an elongated spring tail leading from the opposite end of said body portion and bearing against said handle to normally hold said tooth in engagement 15 with one of said notches, a second jaw, a shank leading from said second jaw through said irst-mentioned jaw into said handle, and said handle and shank being provided with interrupted threads adapted 20 to be brought into engagement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alli): my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VILLIAM LOUIS STEVENSON.

Witnesses C. WV. POURELL, M. C. COCHRAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

